The Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) and so many other Good Samaritans collect abandoned dogs and cats with the hope that they can find a suitable and loving/caring home for the orphans.
The column today serves to enthuse you to make your home available to an animal – unwanted and cast aside – an animal from which you can only harvest loyalty and happiness.
The fact that these discarded animals come in all breeds, sizes and ages, allows you a greater choice as well as the opportunity to find a pet which matches your (and your family’s) lifestyle.
Also, let’s face it: you are also receiving a reward not only because you are essentially saving the life of a dog/cat, but also because you are saving it from an existence in which starvation, disease and continuous agony are perpetual accompaniments.
This column does not mean to condemn anyone from giving away his/her pet. During our series on ‘euthanasia’, we recognized the many reasons for parting company with one’s pet. Many dogs/cats end up at the GSPCA because of circumstances beyond their control. They were victims of a death in the family, illness, divorce or a move that didn’t include them. Some were displaced by a new baby. Others had ‘parents’ who didn’t learn how to train them. And there are those who were left at the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter because of a behaviour problem that the pet’s ‘parents’ didn’t try to overcome or weren’t able to resolve.
But make no mistake – a ‘second-hand’ dog is in no way second-rate. Most GSPCA dogs available for adoption are healthy, affectionate animals. Any dog – young or old, mixed breed or pure-bred – will likely need some training or retraining to learn how to fit into its new household and become your cherished companion. Our Shelter staff, in some small unprofessional way, do evaluate a dog’s behaviour when it arrives, and this information could help you determine what kind of training your new dog needs.
Another advantage to adopting is that our (GSPCA’s) Shelter dogs are a real bargain! At the GSPCA there is no adoption fee. That’s better than the cost of buying a dog from a pet store or breeder. Most of our Shelter dogs are spayed or neutered before adoption, or the spay/neutering surgery could be performed soon after the adopted dog settles into the new home. You won’t have to pay for the cost of surgery. The GSPCA gives its animals thorough physical exams and provide vaccinations at a relatively low cost.
Choosing which pet to adopt
May I suggest that before you go to the GSPCA’s Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk to look for a life to save, prepare yourself for the encounter. Below you will find some suggested considerations:
- Identify your needs. Are you a single adult looking for a dog who can go everywhere with you? Are you a parent looking for a dog who loves children? Do you have other dogs or cats at home? Do you enjoy grooming or do you want a dog with an easy-care coat? Do you have a quiet, mostly sedentary lifestyle or are you active and looking for an exercise partner? What size and breed of dogs does your landlord or extended family allow? Do you want a dog who will love going for a walk on the seawall, in the backdam in the National Park? What size of dog would fit best in your home, car and yard? What age? Puppies can be irresistible, but raising them properly takes a lot of time and hard work. Most adult dogs only require a bit of basic obedience training and a house-training refresher (if you intend to keep it indoors – often a bad idea).
- Make a list of questions to ask Shelter staff members who sometimes have access to information about a dog’s past, and they can often provide insight into a dog’s personality.
– What do you know about this dog’s/cat’s history? Where did it come from? Was it surrendered by a guardian, found as a stray or transferred from another ‘breeding’ farm.
– If the animal was surrendered by his former guardian, you may wish to see the information card which was compiled when the GSPCA took in the dog. We do ask people surrendering an animal to provide detailed information about the pet, including his medical history, likes and dislikes, and behavioural characteristics.
– Was a behaviour evaluation on dog/cat potential adoptee conducted? If so, what were the results?
– What did staff notice about the animal’s behaviour since it has been at the Shelter? How would the staff describe the animal’s personality and behaviour? Does he like other dogs? Does he like children? Is he affectionate, aloof, calm, energetic, fearful, shy, outgoing…?
Ask any and all questions that are relevant to your particular needs.
Please accept out best wishes for a successful 2015 and beyond.
Please implement disease preventative measures (vaccinations, routine dewormings, monthly anti-heartworm medication, etc) and adopt-a-pet from the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, if you have the wherewithal to care well for the animals. Do not stray your unwanted pets, take them to the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter instead. If you do not wish your pet to have puppies or kittens, you may exploit the GSPCA’s free spay and neutering programme. If you see anyone being cruel to an animal, or if you need any technical information, please get in touch with the Clinic and Shelter by calling 226-4237.
